Torrey, Utah – Residents across parts of central Utah could have felt brief shaking early Tuesday after a magnitude 4.0 earthquake struck northeast of Torrey near the rugged terrain surrounding Capitol Reef National Park.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the earthquake occurred at 10:32 p.m. MDT Monday (04:32 UTC Tuesday) about 29 kilometers east-northeast of Torrey. The quake originated at a shallow depth of about 3.4 kilometers, which can make shaking feel stronger near the epicenter even with a moderate magnitude.
Communities across Wayne County and nearby portions of Garfield County—including Torrey, Bicknell, Teasdale, and areas along Utah State Route 24—may have experienced a short burst of shaking lasting a few seconds. Early “Did You Feel It?” reports submitted to the USGS indicated light shaking in the region, consistent with a level IV intensity event.
Earthquakes of magnitude 4.0 typically cause little to no structural damage but can rattle windows, shift small items, and startle residents. Local emergency officials recommend checking homes for unsecured items and reviewing earthquake safety procedures such as Drop, Cover, and Hold On.
Seismologists say there is roughly a 25% chance of smaller magnitude-3 aftershocks within the next week in the same region. Monitoring will continue across central Utah as seismic networks track any additional activity.
